Califreezing

Went surfing today with some really good old friends, my brother Nate, Dave Jarman, Tim Hope, and Ryan Ford. We surfed the Rivermouth in Newport, it was a bit crowded, but the waves were just small, clean, peaky, and Bitchin'!! It was so fun being with friends enjoying some good surf. I was riding my friend's dad's 9'6" Robert August, and like always it was just smooth jazz. Today something happened that doesn't happen too often to me, I got two sweet little In-n-out barrels. So stoked!!! The reason for the infrequency of this eventful occurrence is due to my size. Though keeping good balance is something that I can do well, once my body is in the squatting position you could blow on me and to my chagrin I would tumble. Barrel riding requires this "squatting balance" that could help you maneuver through the barrel, or "tube" if you will, without falling. This is the reason for my excitement, some say it is a fluke, but I say that Poseidon felt like tossing a friendly wink my way and with a grin saying, "This one's on me Hooze...Mazel Mazel!"

Coming to an end

Well, my last fall semester at BYUH is coming to an end. I am stressing about some assignments but for the most part I've done most of my hard work during the semester. Two weeks from now I'll be in California...weird. Well this semester has been a good one. Tons of laughs with friends and roommates, waves with Ian and by myself both long boarding and finally towards the end on my new 6'6" single fin. Almost every saturday you could find Ian, Aaron and I skating at the Handcocks mini ramp at sunset, which I agree with Ian when he said, "The handcocks mini ramp has improved my quality of life." Music was played at open mics at the "A frame" house, different events, and in my living room with Aaron Puzey, Maggie Harris, Ted Davis, and Ian Patton. I successfully learned how to Salsa, Bachata, and Manege dance every Wednesday night at Latin Club, to say I was out of control would be an understatement, along with latin dancing I went to some rager dance parties with good friends where we'd let loose so much, we'd have dance-overs the next morning. I went on a good amount of dates this semseter, which didn't yield any fruits, but was full growing experiences some more comfortable than others.

I feel blessed to have gained two really good friends in the past 6 months, Ian Patton (my roommate) and Ted Davis (my house manager).I knew them before I moved in, but not even close to the extent at which I know them now. They have been great supports to me and have been there for me no matter what, whether it be slapping me in the face with reality or giving me the advice, compliments, confidence, and encouragement that I need. I will never forget the times I have had this semseter. Often the highlights of this semester are not the parties, jamming, catching bitchin' waves, or skating but the relaxing times in our house where we would sit and share some Yerba maté or tererê and our thoughts as friends and brothers.

I have learned a lot academically as well. My classes This semester seemed to have demanded a bit more out of me as usual, which they should seeing it is my senior year. I am really excited for my last semester and my excitement is coupled with nerves for my field practicum which will be from April-July. Come August I don't know where I'll be, but for now I am going to enjoy Hawaii and my friends and loved ones as much as possible.

Annabel Lee

So I am singing a song with Aaron Puzey, Maggie Harris, and Ted Davis. It is a song called Anna Lee that was written and composed by Aaron. The song is about his sister, Anna Lee Puzey. The song is amazing!!! But I have been thinking about a few other songs, one that shares the same song title, by Strung Out. The other is "Annabel Lee", by Tiger Army, and "Annabel" by Joshua James. These three other songs share the same source of inspiration for the song lyrics. They stem from a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe called "Annabel Lee." I find it interesting to see the different interpretation and feeling each lyricist/singer has given to this great dark poem.

Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of ANNABEL LEE;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason (as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Annabel Lee by Tiger Army

Oh Annabel Lee, forever in my dreams.
You know you've still got a piece of my heart.
You've had it right from the start.

Oh Annabel Lee, stop haunting my dreams.
Yours is the face that I see in the dark, in the dark.

Into the darkness,
farther, my heart slips.
Into the darkness,
into the sea.

Oh Annabel Lee, the ocean calls to me.
In the spring when our love had its start.
Oh Annabel Lee,forever trapped by the memories,
in the sepulchre of my heart.

Black cats they scurry by in the night.
They tell me where you are.
In the chill of november
and now the kingdom is in ruins.
Just a memory of you and me.
Will you release me?

Into the darkness,
farther, my heart slips.
Into the darkness,
into the sea.

Oh Annabel Lee, those nights seem so long ago.
When my heart didn't feel so old.
Oh Annabel Lee, call your name for eternity.
Long as the stars shall burn and the moon glows.

The ocean whispers in night air
and you once were with me there.
Do you remember?
And I'm speaking your name.
Though it's over, think of me.
Will you release me?

Into the darkness,
farther, my heart slips.
Into the darkness,
into the sea.

Anna Lee by Strung Out

You hold this place inside my head you're a symphony of hurt
The daylight passes through me To another crippled verse
Been here once before and I know exactly where it ends;
Right back where we started pain dead flowers on the bed
Anna Lee don't you cry for me
You're not as strong as you wanna be
In the dark we all see what we know
It's the space that scares us so
You lead me to your garden where only dead things dare to grow
You convince me I deserve the thorn you've tried so hard to show
Normalness escapes me to the point of no return
The memories around thi place keep us from movin' on
Anna Lee don't you cry for me
You're not as strong as you wanna be
In the dark we all see what we know
Its the space that scares us so The endless balmy air we breathe
This city's startin' to get to me tonight
I'll take the metro anywhere that isn't here
I find the comfort in the pain I always cause...all night
She says she might wait around for me
To come along with a promise and a dream

Anabelle by Joshua James

I sold my ships away for a dime that I can't save.
Now this love I've made isn't real.
Shelter me, dearest lord, from this habit I can't break.
I've turned my back on you.
Now this road back home has froze.
Are you well, are you well my Annabelle, Annabelle?
Are you well, are you well my Annabelle, Annabelle?
Cuz I wish you well!
I traveled with a long suitcase and a busted picture frame
that shows the piano we played in the dark.
Then he sold you away to the darkest of the stage, put tight shackles around your heart.
Now I swear, Love, I never left...

Little update

So for the past week I have been sick with first the flu, then it morphed into bronchitis. I am currently about 87% better, just some coughing here and there. I read the Hunger Games while I was sick, what a entertaining book. Nothing to analyze and write papers about but it is a very fun read.

I woke up this morning with two texts, one from Shawn Gleason and the other from Matt Carroll. They both urgently directed me to the Thrice website. Which I did when my first opportunity came. I read the message written by Dustin Kensrue the lead singer of Thrice. It reads as follows:

Thrice is not breaking up. If nothing has broken us up by now, I doubt anything ever could.

However, we will be taking a break from being a full-time band, and the upcoming tour in the Spring will be the last one for the foreseeable future.

Playing music for the past 13 years with Riley, Ed, and Teppei has been such a gift. We have been able to see the world, share music with thousands and thousands of people, and make records with a variety of talented and inspiring people. The four of us have been through many highs and lows and overcome them together. I value their friendship, and it has been a great priviledge to play alongside them for so long. They are truly an amazingly gifted group of people, and the ways we’ve grown together as people and musicians has been a joy to experience.

Along the way we have adapted to many changing situations, especially the growing families of both Teppei and myself, but it has been harder and harder for me with each step. I have three little girls now under the age of 5, and it is a huge strain on my family and I when I’m away for several weeks at a time. The way we’ve been doing things for a while is simply not sustainable for me anymore.

I don’t know what the future looks like for Thrice, or for any of us individually. I do know that I would love to make more music in the future with them, as well as play some shows or short tours, but for the time being, I need to step out of the role of full time touring/recording musician, and will do so after this tour. I will continue to make music in various capacities I’m sure, and continue in my work as a Worship Director at Mars Hill Church in Orange County.

I know this will be very disappointing news to many people, and for that I am truly sorry. The amount of support and love we’ve been given in our career is staggering and overwhelming. I know I’m biased, but I think we have the best fans in the world.

This upcoming tour should be a lot of fun. We are planning for it to be somewhat of a celebration of the last 13 years and I’m sure we’ll be breaking out a bunch of songs that have been buried in the archives. I hope to see you out there to celebrate with us.

I never expected to be able to do any of this, let alone do it for 13 years, with such amazing bandmates, such gifted and hard working crew and management, and such incredible and loyal fans.

Thank you all.

I've been numb all day...emotionally that is. I feel very grateful that they have such high regard for family that they would set aside their passions and profession for the betterment of their loved ones. I also feel very sad, they are the cornerstone of all the music I listen to. They are a huge passion of mine and their music has provided a conduit for tender spiritual moments where I have felt the love of my Savior, Jesus Christ. This may seem funny to some people, but if you know Thrice at all, you will understand perfectly the experiences that I have had with their music and lyrics. I really hope that I can see them on their last full spring tour, It would be good closure. I will always love them as artists, poets, musicians, and good human beings.

Lunar Love

lunar love, moon above me,
you pull my heart and you pull the sea,
like you I only shine,
in the light of hearts brighter than mine,

shadows cast from the darkest trees,
you catch the sinner down on his knees,
throw the first stone if you dare,
down with your light and your judging stare,

Chorus
do the stars speak of me?
will you ever see?
your pull that moves the tides,
oh, it pulls on me

you're not the only one with a dark side,
a place to run to, a place to hide,
I know you're lonely up in the dark sky,
I can feel it when you cry,

is there no one for you above,
no one to hold, no one to love,
you're need for love is what I share,
someone to live life with someone to care,

Chorus (x2)

Oh, we are two lost souls,
shining on the world,
looking for a love that will never be

So Good